Although most people think injected insulin is reserved for type 1 diabetes, more than one in four people with type 2 diabetes use it. And in most of those cases, it just makes things worse – especially when it comes to managing your weight.

Let’s take a quick look at why that’s true. Type 2 diabetes, which affects 95% of all diabetics, is caused by insulin resistance. In people with this condition, the beta cells in the pancreas make plenty of insulin – the hormone that moves glucose from the blood into the cells – but the cells are unresponsive to insulin’s actions. This leads to a rise in blood sugar. The pancreas responds by churning out more insulin, and the net result is elevated levels of both glucose and insulin.

Fat cells also secrete hormones – so many, in fact, that some experts actually refer to adipose tissue as an endocrine organ. One of these hormones is leptin. Although leptin is best known for its governing effects on appetite and energy metabolism, researchers from Boston’s Joslin Diabetes Center discovered that it also has direct effects on insulin secretion and beta-cell growth.

At the same time, the high levels of insulin that are characteristic of type 2 diabetes promote weight gain. That’s because insulin is the body’s primary fat-storage hormone – it ushers fat as well as glucose into the cells. So the higher your insulin level, the greater your potential weight gain.

The best way to get a handle on diabetes is not with more insulin; it’s shedding excess weight. To get started, cut starches, sugars and other high-glycemic carbohydrates out of your diet, and eat plenty of lean protein, vegetables and fiber. Most importantly, make sure you get at least 30-45 minutes of vigorous exercise four or more days a week and support your effort with nutritional supplements that enhance weight loss and help lower blood sugar.